Gorontalo, NU Online
Aiming to curb adultery in the world's most populous Muslim nation, an Indonesian province has enforced a law that obligates government employees to attend congregational prayers and religious sermons.<>

“I have heard so many reports of married civil servants cheating. They have one girlfriend or boyfriend one day, and another the next,” Rusli Habibie the governor of Gorontalo province, who issued the law, told Agence France Presse (AFP) on Wednesday, April 16.

“They are not allowed to do this.”

The governor's decision was announced earlier this month when he enacted a local low that abides Muslim civil servants in the Indonesian central province of Gorontalo to attend mass prayers and Friday's sermon.

His move followed several reports of marital disputes among public servants families, which may lead to infidelity and adultery in some cases.

“Their behavior is destroying the image of the government. They cannot do this,” he said, rejecting criticism that infidelity was a private matter.

The governor believes that the new local law will discourage “cheating on spouses”.

This is not the first controversial decision to be issued by Gorontalo province governor.

In 2012, governor Habibie gave instructions that force “workers to transfer their salaries to their wives because of increasing complaints about marital infidelity”.

At that time more than 90% civil servants in Sulawesi's Gorontalo supported the idea.

In July 2013, Gorontalo governor prohibited men from having female secretaries, saying that they grab their attention while overlooking their wives.

Imposing mandatory prayer in Gorontalo province is not the first instance also in Indonesia.

Public servants in Indonesia’s western district of Riau are obligated to abide by the mandatory religious program that obligates all male Muslim public servants to join Zuhr and `Asr congregational prayers at the main mosque at the Islamic Center.

The religious program also includes joining Fajr prayer on Friday, along with fasting on Monday and Thursday.

Located in the oil rich province of Riau, Rokan Hulu's employees are also required to attend the Qur’an study group which is held every Wednesday evening, according to the district's religious program.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim state with Muslims making up around 90 percent of its 240-million population.

Performing prayers in congregation is a confirmed Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Many hadiths discuss the virtue and importance of performing prayer in congregation.

Islam teach Muslims to be tolerant at all levels — individuals, groups, and states.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq